PITTSBURGH, July 10, 2012 - Epidemiologists from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) will bridge continents, cultures and the information gap to present a novel, computer-based learning system to an audience of health researchers, scientists and students in Central Asia.

Center for Life Sciences at Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan, and the University of Pittsburgh will be holding a workshop titled "Introduction to Research Methods in the Era of the Internet" on research design and statistical methodology in public health and medicine. The conference will run from July 9 to 13 in Astana, Kazakhstan, and is designed to encourage scientific networking and the dissemination of information in the Central Asia region, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

“This program allows us to highlight the best public health practices and share them on a global level,” said Ronald LaPorte, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology at GSPH.

The workshop is an outgrowth of Supercourse, a repository of 5,000 lectures on global health and prevention, available for free on the web. Supercourse is produced at the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center at GSPH. In addition to Dr. LaPorte, GSPH faculty Faina Linkov, Ph.D., Janice Dorman, Ph.D., Thomas Songer, Ph.D., and Eugene Shubnikov, M.D., will lead the instructional sessions at Nazarbayev University.

More than 60 Central Asian researchers and doctoral students are expected to attend.

Selected lectures and video recordings will be made available through the science portal of CAREN, the regional academic network of Central Asia. Additionally, the Central Asian mirror of the Supercourse repository can be found at this portal.

For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.

UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.

Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.